Ex-aide to far-right lawmaker on trial in Germany for China spying

5/8/2025 19:07

A former assistant to a politician for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) went on trial in a German court on Tuesday, charged with spying for China's intelligence agency.



The defendant, identified as German national Jian G. in line with German privacy rules, is suspected of having worked for a Chinese intelligence service since 2002, say prosecutors.



Dresden court spokesperson Meike Schaaf said he was charged with gathering documents and files from the European Parliament while working for Maximilian Krah, a former European lawmaker who now represents the AfD in Germany's national parliament.



Federal prosecutors argue some documents were partially confidential and they also accuse him of collecting personal information on the leadership of the AfD and of spying on Chinese opposition members and dissidents.



The high-profile case has fuelled concern about Europe being a target for Chinese spying.